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The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.

Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the fence.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the last turn on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.